Ethernet Twisted-Pair Cabling – Cable and Interface Types

Ethernet Cable Types

The layout or pinout of the wires in the RJ45 connector dictates the function
of the cable. There are three common types of twisted-pair cable:
• Straight-through cable
• Crossover cable
• Rollover cable

The network interface type determines when to use each cable:
• Medium Dependent Interface (MDI)
• Medium Dependent Interface with Crossover (MDIX)
Host interfaces are generally MDI, while hub or switch interfaces are
typically MDIX.